The Lakes Police Station and Government Well

Statement of Significance

The old Lakes Police Station has high social and historic significance to the Shire and the State for its associations with the early settlement of the district and the opening up of agricultural lands to the east.

Physical Description

The old Police Station at the Lakes sits on the north side of the Great Southern Highway, apposite Lake Manaring and several hundred metres east of the junction with Great eastern Highway at the Lakes Roadhouse. The building consists of white painted, rendered, stone walls with tow gables at each end of a verandah across the front. The tops of the gables have a half timbered appearance and the plan of the building (which was not inspected) appears 'U' shaped around the courtyard or quadrangle and built in several stages. It has not been possible to determine, without a detailed examination, the extent of original fabric and the various stages and adaptions that the buildling has undergone throughout it's period of use.

History

By the early 1860's, travlelers on the York Road (Great eastern Highway) from Guildford to York demanded police protection from the increasing menace of escaped convicts. As a result of pressure from the politically influential York Agricultural Society (formed 1840), the Lakes Police Station was established by 1864. It was located near Henry Horton's Halfway House on the north shore of Manaring Lake. Because the one resident constable was expected to patrol the entire York Road, it meant the Station was often unattended.
In July 1869, new quarters were built to replace the previous miserable and unfit ones. Relations between Horton and the constables at the Police Station were poor, with petty behaviour shown by Horton in regard to the delivery of police mail. In 1878, the Police Station closed down. It re-opened in 1884 and was used until 1887, when it permanently closed operations. After this and despite being in a neglected state, Robert Brimson leased and lived in it from 1894 to 1902. In 1918, an adjoining landowner Mr JM Barnes purchased the neglected abandoned buildings. After restoration and extensions the building served as a RAC road-house. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, Phil Harwood further restored the building. At present the site is a residence which has some of the doors and windows of the former Travellers Inn.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: Low
Modifications: Various adaptions.

Condition

Fair

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.